Grading Systems

Unit of Credit: A unit of credit represents one hour of lecture or recitation and two hours of preparation per week, or three hours of laboratory per week for one semester.

Academic
Grades

Grades Standing

Grade Points
per Unit

A

Excellent

4

B

Good

3

C

Satisfactory

2

D

Passing - less than
satisfactory

1

F

Fail

0

P

Pass

Units earned not
counted in GPA

NP

No Pass

United not counted
in GPA

The grade point average (GPA) is determined by dividing the total grade points earned by the total grade point units completed as listed in the chart above.

Administrative symbols: P/NP—Pass/No Pass; I—Incomplete; W—Withdrawal; IP—In Progress; RD—Report Delayed. Administrative symbols are not used in the computation of GPA. See below for further explanation.

Pass/No Pass (P/NP) is a nonpunitive grading system where such units earned will be counted in satisfaction of curricular requirements but will be disregarded in determining a student's grade point average. For more specific information, refer to the discussion of the “Pass/No Pass Grading Policy” on page 46.

Incomplete: A symbol of “I,” Incomplete, may be assigned by an instructor when a student has been unable to complete academic work for unforeseeable emergency and/or justifiable reason at the end of term. A copy of the “Assignment of Incomplete” form will be mailed to the student and the original retained in the Office of the Vice President, Student Services. A final grade will be assigned when the work stipulated has been completed and evaluated by the instructor or when the time limit for completion of the work has passed. An “I” must be made up no later than one year following the end of the term in which it was assigned. In the event of unusual, verifiable circumstances beyond the student's control, a petition may be filed in the Office of the Vice President, Student Services for extension of the one-year time limit. Course repetition is not permitted to remove an Incomplete.

Withdrawal: An official withdrawal from classes may be requested by the student or initiated on his/her behalf by the instructor or Vice President, Student Services.

The following conditions apply to official withdrawal:

No record of the class will be entered on the student's permanent record if the official withdrawal is made by the deadline to drop without a “W” being recorded as published in the schedule of classes.

If the withdrawal is made after the deadline for withdrawing without a “W” and prior to the deadline for withdrawal published in the class schedule for that session, a “W” will be recorded on the student's permanent record. No exceptions to this policy will be made. Petitions will not be accepted for exception to policy.

A student attending a session after the deadline for withdrawal will not be eligible to receive a “W” and must be assigned an academic grade or other administrative symbol by the instructor. Exceptions to this policy will be made only upon verification of extreme circumstances beyond the control of the student. Petitions requesting exception must be filed in the Admissions Office.

Withdrawal (W) symbols will be used in the calculation of lack of progress probation and disqualification status.

Students on active duty or reserve duty may petition for a “military” withdrawal. This withdrawal is not calculated in the determination of academic progress and is noted on the student's academic record.

Students will be allowed a maximum of four withdrawals in any course.

In Progress: A symbol of “IP,” In Progress, will be assigned when a class extends beyond the normal end of a semester or summer session, that is, when the class “carries over” from one term to the next. The appropriate grade, however, shall be assigned and appear on a student's record for the term during which the course is completed. The “IP” will remain on the academic record. The “IP” shall not be used in the calculation of a student's grade point average.

Grade Challenge

Final grades will be issued at the end of each semester. In the absence of mistake, fraud, incompetence, or bad faith, the determination of the student's grade by the instructor shall be final once they have been recorded by the Registrar's Office.

Final grades will be issued at the end of each semester. In the absence of mistake, fraud, incompetence, or bad faith, the determination of the student's grade by the instructor shall be final once they have been recorded by the Registrar's Office.

Pass/No Pass Grading Policy

Consistent with District policy, a student in good standing may elect to be graded on a Pass/No Pass basis in a course. A grade of “Pass” (P) shall be awarded only for work which otherwise would have received a grade of “C” or better. Work that would have received a “D” or “F” will be graded “No Pass” (NP). The units earned will be counted in satisfaction of program requirements, but will be disregarded in determining a student's grade point average.

IMPORTANT: Students who plan to transfer to a four-year institution should review the Pass/No Pass acceptance policy of the transfer institution prior to petitioning for this grading option. Restrictions in the San Diego Community College District also apply.

Limitations:

No course required in the student's major may be taken for Pass/No Pass. Some departments may limit this option further.

No more than 12 units of a student's coursework completed in the San Diego Community College District may be graded on a Pass/No Pass basis. Courses offered only on a Pass/No Pass basis are excluded from this limit.

Conditions:

Students who wish to be graded on a Pass/No Pass basis must submit a petition to the Admissions Office by the deadline date listed in the schedule of classes. No exceptions to the deadline will be made.

An evaluation on a Pass/No Pass basis may not later be changed to a letter grade nor may the reverse occur. No exceptions to this condition will be made. Petitions will not be accepted for exception to policy.

There are courses in which Pass/No Pass grades are used exclusively; these are designated in the catalog course description by the statement “Pass/No Pass Only.” In addition, there are courses which cannot be taken on a Pass/No Pass basis; these are designated in the course description by the statement “Letter Grade Only.”